Adding-machine



(No Model.)

W. H.WILSON.

ADDING MACHINE. No. 479,343. Patented July 19,1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Oriucn.

WILLIAM IIARMON WVILSON, OF MOLINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN V.EMMITT AND ROBERT L. KIMBRO, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

ADDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. I79,343, dated July 19,1892.

Application filed December 2,1891. Serial No. 413.759. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HARMON WIL- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State ofIllinois, have have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAdding- Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in IO the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of thisspecification.

I 5 Myinvention has reference to improvements in adding-machines, and issusceptible of ap plication in a variety of circumstances and conditionsand is advantageous in aggregating the successive sales in mercantileestab- 2o lishments.

The purpose of my invention is to afford mechanical means foraggregating a sucession of numbers, each added number increasing thenext preceding aggregate to the extent of its own amount, therebyexhibiting each time the aggregation of the numbers I which have thusfar been merged since a given starting-point.

In addition to the foregoing mechanism, but

forming no part of the present invention, I may use a supplementarymechanism adapted to temporarily exhibit in succession the severalamounts added, as aforesaid, into an aggregate. In the case of sales ofcommodities or goods this sem'ctz'm exhibition of the several amountscoincidently entering into the preceding aggregation would indicate ineach instance the amount of the last purchase, and in my device remains011 exhibition un- 40 til succeeded by the next purchase, which is inits turn exhibited until in like mannersucceeded. I attain the objectsabove referred to by the use of parallel notched movable bars adapted tobe actuated to a predetermined limit by the pencil or finger of theoperator at each operation. These bars have each outwardly-presenteddepressions, which are serially numbered from top to bottom O to 9,inclusive, (there being eleven of said depressions in all, the upperonebeing blank, Fig. 1.) Each of these bars is adapted to be movedlongitudinally and upward, and each one corresponds with an ordinaryvertical column of written or printed figures, the right bar being theunits-column, the next the tens and so on indefinitely, but in thisapplication shown only as extending to millions. The bars aforesaid haverecesses upon their under sides corresponding with those on their uppersides, which under notches in the upward 6o movement of said bars areadapted to engage and partially rotate a wheel having a correspondingnotched and numbered periphery on which the upperends of said barsrespectively normally rest.

In the indicator referred to as supplementary to the adding mechanismthere is no mechanical union between the adding and indicating devices;but the indicating-machine, as hereinafter shown, is adapted to be oper-7o ated coincidently with the operation of the adding-machine.

The mechanism referred to is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the adding 7 mechanism proper,a portion of it being broken away to more clearly show the location andconstruction of said parts. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same withthe like representation of one form of the indicating devices in theirrelation in use to the adding mechanism. In said figure the side of theframe of the machine is removed to exhibit the conformation andinterrelation of the interior mechanism. Fig. 3 is a verticalcross-section of the exhibiting-wheels of the indicating department,each with an actuating similar wheel on the right axially connectedtherewith, said smaller wheels being notched and numbered to correspondwith the upper series of wheels in the adding mechanism. In Fig.3 butfour indicating-wheels, corresponding with four vertical columns offigures, are shown for the reason that separate purchases will notexceed that number of numerals; but it is obvious 5 that the number ofindicatingwheels may be increased as desired.

Referring to Fig. 2, which shows the machine in cross-section, A is asuitable base which may be attached to the counter or other framework ormay be an independent frame provided with a cash-drawer directly beneaththe machine. B is the frame which contains the adding mechanism E F andwhich stands at an elevation of about forty-five degrees from the baseand rests at its lower end upon the latter and is supported at its upperend by lid 0, which being hinged at the lower edge of the upper cornerof the frame B is readily folded under the machine to serve as a leg forsaid frame B, as shown in said figure, and which when the machine is notin use can be folded over the face of the latter and serve to close it.D is a transverse rod rigidly seated in the upper end of the frame B andserves as the pivotal seat of the parallel series of wheels E, arrangedto rotate intermittently or otherwise independent of the shaft D and ofeach other. The periphery of the wheels E is formed into ten notches G,each having an abrupt shoulder 2 and an oblique shoulder 3. F F areindependent longitudinally-movable bars, notched on both their lower andupper surfaces, the lower notches at therein being formed like thenotches G in wheels E, except that the abrupt shoulder of notches a isseated oppositely of the abrupt shoulder 2 in wheel E, so that in theupward movement of the bar F the abrupt shoulders of the underlyingnotches 4 will successively engage the abrupt shoulders 2 of thecorresponding notches G in the wheels E. The outer notches 5 of the barsF F are opposite to and the reverse of the notches l therein in havingtheir abrupt shoulder upward, whereby the upper sides of each notch 5presents an abrupt or nearly-perpendicular wall, against which theoperator can place his pencil or finger in moving the bars F upward.

As shown in Fig. 1, the notches in the bars F are numbered downward fromO to 9, and the upper ends of said bars F rest, respectively, on theperipheries of the wheels E in position for notches 4 of said bars toengage the notches G of the wheel E at the iniative of the upward thrustof said bars F. The lower ends of bars F are each formed into a loop F,which loop forms a bearing for the lower end of the bar and traverses aplatform B, located in frame B. A cross-bar H is rigidly attached to theframe A outside of and near the upper ends of the bars F when the latterare in their normal position,which serves the double function of holdingsaid bars F down into engagement with the notches G of the wheel E, andis also so located with reference to said wheels E as that when thepropelling pencil or finger which is placed in the selected notch of thebar F is moved upward until it strikes against said bar H the desiredaction of the bar F will have been accom plished. A separate retainingpawl-sprin g 18, seated in frame B under bars F steadies the rotation ofwheels E and prevents their retrogression.

In Fig. 2 there is shown the indicating apparatus seated in the frame Aabove and in the same plane of the lower frame B. The indicating deviceconsists of a suitably-supported rotating shaft 3 and fourindicatingwheels K, L, M, and N, carried mediately or immediatelythereon,as hereinafter described, and shown in cross-section in Fig. 3.The wheel K is seated rigidly upon the rotating shaft J and carriedthereby, being actuated by the outer wheel E, also rigidly seated on thesaid shaft J. Said wheel E and three inner wheels E E and E (shown inFig. 3) are each provided with notches and numbered and actuatedindependently by notched bars F in the same manner as the wheels E ofthe adding-machine are by the bars F. The indicating-wheel L is rigidlyseated on the sleeve 7, encircling the shaft J and extending from thelocality of the wheel L to and within the wheel E second from the end,said last-named wheel E being also rigidly seated on sleeve 7. Wheel Mis rigidlyseated on the sleeve 8 outside of sleeve 7, which sleeve 8extends from the interior of wheel M to the interior of the third wheelE the latter wheel being rigidly seated upon the sleeve 8, and wheel Nis rigidly seated upon the sleeve 9, extending from within the sleeve 9to within the fourth or inner wheel E, which latter wheel E" is rigidlyseated upon the sleeve 8, so that any degree of rotation imparted to anyof the four wheels mounted on the shaft J or on one of the severalsleeves will be imparted proportionately to said exhibitingwheel, withwhich said actuated wheel is connected. The wheels K, L, M, and N havearound their peripheries the figures from 0 to 9 in the usual manner.

As the indicating device forms no part of the present invention, I havenot deemed it necessary to illustrate or describe the numbering of thewheels further than to say that the series upon N represents units ofcents, those upon M the tens of cents, and those upon L units ofdollars, and those upon K tens of dollars, and the series maybelaterally extended at will, as before mentioned.

The peripheral figures upon the indicatingwheels K, L, M, and N can beseen and read by the purchaser in a horizontal transverse line throughthe visual opening 0, located in front of said wheels. A cross-bar Pconnects the springs 18 of each wheel E, E E and E laterally, and apull-bar R is suitably connected to the cross-bar P, by means of whichall of the springs 18 may be coincidently released and the wheels andtheir related indicating-wheels be drawn back to zero by ropes or cordsS and weights S attached to the axle of each of said indicating-wheels,so that after the indicatingwheels have exhibited the amount of the lastaddition aforesaid (which amount, in the case of sales, would be that ofthe last purchase) by drawing upwardly on the pull-bar R all of' theindicating-wheels will be rotated reversely by means of the cords andweights until the ciphers thereon are seen through the opening 0aforesaid, and said indicating-wheels are in position for the nextimpulse.

Means are employed, as hereinafter described, for coincidently and inthe same proportion to actuate the bars F of the addingmachine and thebars F of the indicatingmachine; but I make no claims for the indicatingmechanism, nor for the means for operating it coincidently with theadding-machine, but have only shown the indicatingmachine in connectionwith the adding-machine to more fully illustrate the use andadaptability of the adding-machine.

On each wheel E in the recess O,which carries the cipher, there isseated a slight radial spur T near the left hand of said recess, and atthe head of each bar F on the right-hand edge there is a slight laterallug V, so that when the figure 9 on any of the wheels E is moved upwardto a certain point the spur T engages the lateral lugV and moves the barF next on the left, and thereby the wheel beneath said last-named bar ismoved one degree of rotation. This provision carries into the nextleft-hand column the excess over nine in the column next adjacent on theright.

The frame which contains the indicating apparatus is substantially thecounterpart of that which contains the adding mechanism heretofore morespecifically described, and these two frames can be seated in onegeneral frame, as shown in Fig. 2, or they may be separate frames simplyplaced in the proper relative position.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Referring to the operationof the adding-machine, all of the wheels E in the adding-machine beingturned in such position that the notches on which the cipher isindicated are just above the bar H, suppose the first numher to beconsidered is four units. The operator will place his pencil upon therecess 5 of the unit-bar Fupon which the numeral at is impressed andpush said bar F upward until the pencil shall strike thelower edge ofsaid transverse bar H, when by withdrawing the pencil the bar F willdrop back by gravity into its original position and the wheel E willhave been actuated thereby four of the degrees or notches G marked onits periphery, which will present the figure 4 of said Wheel E justabove the bar H in the locality formerly occupied by the 0. Should thenext addition be seven units, the operator in like manner will place hispencil on the recess marked 7 in the unit-bar F and move said recess upuntil the pencil strikes the bar II, as aforesaid, when it will be foundupon removing the pencil and permitting the bar F to drop back intoplace that the numeral 1 has taken the place occupied by the 4 and thatthe radial spurT in the recess marked 0 of the units-wheel E has engagedthe lug V of the next bar F on the left, or what might be called thetens-bar, andthereby actuated the tens-wheel E one degree, presentingabove the bar F in transverseline the amount 11. The like operation isextended throughoutall of the wheels E. Whenever the number increased bythe last addition in any of the columns exceeds nine,theengagement ofthespur T and lug V occurs, and is one carried to the next wheel to theleft by the rotation of the adjacent wheel one step ora sufficientdistance to expose the figure 1.

lVhen the indicating mechanism is used in connection with the addingmechanism in stead of the pencil, there will be used an instrumenthaving two legs like a compass, one of which legs will be placed uponthe bar F of the adding-machine, as before described, and the other uponthe corresponding bar F and at the same locality thereon oftheindieating devices, and the bars F of the adding mechanism and thebars F of the indicating mechanism will be coincidently moved upward, asbefore described in reference to the operation of the adding-machine.

As the function of the indicating-machine is not to exhibit theaggregate, but simply the individual numbers thereof, after each impulseof the indicating-wheels the releasingrod R will be pulled, when all ofthe indicatingwheels which may have been moved from 0 will be by thecords S and weights S brought back to their starting-point or zero.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, 1S

1. A series of separately-pivoted wheels E, provided with peripheralnotches G, serially numbered, and bars F, provided with the doubleseries of notches 4; and 5, the notches 5 being serially numbered andthe bars being adapted to be separately moved longitudinally to engageand actuate, respectively, the wheels E, substantially as shown, and forthe purpose described.

2. The combination of a transverse series of wheels E, provided withserially-numbered peripheral notches G, bars F, having lower engagingand upper serially-numbered notches and adapted to be carried upon andactuate, respectively, said wheels E, and a retainingspring 18 for eachbar, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with a frame, of a series of notched wheels journaled therein, each notch being provided with a number, aseries oflongitudinally-movable notched bars engaging with said wheels, the outernotches of said bars being provided each with a number, and a cross-barsecured to the frame outside of and near the upper ends of the bars whenthe latter are in their normal position, whereby the movementof each barupwardly until the desired notch in the bar is adjacent to the loweredge of the cross-bar the wheel will have been rotated the distance,substantially as set forth.

a. The combination, with a frame, of a series of notched wheelsjournaled therein, each of the notches being provided with a number andone of them with a radially-projecting pin, a notched bar for eachwheel, the upper end of each bar being provided with alaterally-prolateral lug V, adapted to be engaged by spur T, and therebyimpart partial rotation to the next adjacent Wheel E, substantially asshown, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM HARMON \VILSON.

Witnesses: I

BELLE MANAHAN, ADDA E. WARD.

